Salem Community Patriot | April 13, 2012 - 3 Residents Involvement Could Help Drive Town by S. Aaron Shamshoyan

Department Heads and Selectmen gathered for a planning session in lieu of a regular meeting to discuss goals of the town and hear feedback from employees.

Bob King, founder of Goal QPC, led a discussion and activity to help determine a direction for the town. “If you plan to do something, you do it,” he said suggesting the town needs to follow and implement long term plans.

Selectman Stephen Campbell said services were a direction of

the town. “The town needs to provide services to the residents of Salem.” He said five positions were recently outsourced, and that all positions needed to be reviewed. Campbell also suggested a strengthened relationship with the school would provide for greater success. “We asked to meet with them last year and they didn’t want to meet,” he said. Selectman Everett McBride suggested electronic services could bring savings. “I know we’re implementing some things now with the registration of cars,” he said.

Stability in the town manager’s position was the goal for Selectman Michael Lyons, who said the position would provide stability for the board. He also suggested having a designated stall member to fill the position while the town manager may be out due to vacation or other factors. Lyons also suggested reviving the CIP committee to help with infrastructure planning. A business model for the town was the goal for Selectman Jim

Keller. “Data and information are invaluable,” he said adding this would help the board better understand the town. He encouraged employees to share as much information as possible to help the board with decisions. Chairman Pat Hargreaves pleaded for teamwork between

employees and the board. “I want teamwork,” he said, noting the police and fire departments among other structures need attention. “We need to start looking at infrastructure.” King proceeded to hand out repositionable notes to board members and department heads providing the opportunity to brainstorm ideas for direction of the town, and then organized them

on a board into categories. “The thing that people think they most want to do is the long term

thing,” said King as he began to speak on goals for the town. He said the group generated ideas of streamlining the budget process and improving delivery of services to residents. “Improving residents involvement and exploring the use of technology are really two drivers,” said King adding these could be used to help reach long term goals. He also said improving services, infrastructure and planning would be tough to manage. Chairman Hargreaves was excited to hear the feedback. “We

never hear what the department heads have to say,” he said adding he would like more feedback from them. Town Manager Keith Hickey said service efficiency was a high

priority. “The goal is obviously to provide some tremendous services at an affordable price,” he said. Hargreaves repeated he wanted to work closely with the staff and King felt the activity would provide a basis for future plans.

Selectman Has High Hopes for the Future

by S. Aaron Shamshoyan “It’s about a new approach,” said recently elected Selectman Jim

Keller about why he ran for the position. Formerly chairman of the Planning Board, Keller has spend many

years in town and hopes to add value to the board. “I’ve been approached for a number of years now by a handful of people to run,” he said about running for Selectman. Keller added he has run businesses and manages employees around the world and feels this experience will help manage the town. Improvements in infrastructure are important to Keller, saying

he would like to create a long-term plan to manage town roads, bridges, and buildings. “Every year we seem to start from scratch,” said Keller adding a long-term plan would provide for predictable expenditures. “We really are a $40 million company,” he said noting the town should be run as a business. He said a comprehensive capital improvement plan would help the town budget for future projects. Keller wants to look into how services are delivered in town and alternative ways to provide them at a cost savings. He said self-

service options could help reduce costs, and a realignment of staff would help better balance work. “The Town Manager has far too many direct reports,” he said adding about fourteen-department heads report to him. Keller said a restructure could help improve efficiency.

Another new approach the Selectman would like to make is focusing on revenue as opposed to spending. “I want to target laser focused on revenue enhancement.” Keller said the Community Development Director could work with area property owners with vacant facilities to revitalize them and increase town revenue citing the Coke Plant. “I want to coordinate all these activities with the school district,” he said, adding a balance of articles could be brought before voters without overwhelming them. As to the road program, Keller said when running he felt the current funding level was high, but said support for the program at deliberative session changed his outlook. “I think that the people’s vote was very loud.” Overall, Selectman Keller said he wants to look into improving

Students Compete in NH Science and Engineering Expo

efficiencies within the town at a staffing level, see what services could have the option of outsourcing, and create a strong infrastructure plan for the future. Keller said the board works well together, and he feels they will have a successful year.

submitted by Salem High School Several Salem High School students competed at the New Hampshire Science and Engineering Exposition (NHSEE) on March 15 in Concord. Neal Foley won first place in the Musical Instrument Challenge, Emily Yunes and Joshua Gallant won first place in the Kite Challenge, Brianna Rastello won first place in Chemistry for the Effects of Various Liquids on Teeth, and Kate Hammett won first place in Biochemistry for the Effects of Cooking on Starch. Kate also won a prize from the Northeast Institute of Food Technologists for her work. Meghan Gatlin won second place in Chemistry for a Forensic Study of Fingerprints, and Victoria Rozumek was the runner up for a Forensic Study of Blood Spatter Patterns.

Night Work, Lane Closures on I-93 Southbound Between Exit 1 and The State Line in Salem

submitted by the NH Department of Transportation The New Hampshire Department of Transportation announces a nighttime lane closure on Interstate 93 southbound between Exit 2 and Exit 1 in Salem is scheduled from Friday, April 13, at 7:p.m. until 7 a.m. on Saturday morning. This lane closure is to allow for drainage installation. This work is weather dependent and will be postponed if poor weather conditions occur. Motorists using I-93 southbound in the area of Exit 1 in Salem during these hours can expect minor traffic delays. Uniformed officers and traffic control devices will be used to assist motorists through the work zone. This work is part of the $30.5 million I-93 widening and reconstruction project in the vicinity of Exit 1. The general contractor is Middlesex Corporation of Littleton, MA.